Amos 5:9

9 Die Zich verkwikt door verwoesting over een sterke; zodat de verwoesting komt over een vesting.

Amos 5:9 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 5:9

That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong
Such as have been taken by an enemy, who have been stripped of their armour, and spoiled of all their goods and substance, and have no friends nor allies, nor anything to help themselves with; the Lord can supply them with strength, furnish them with weapons, and send them helpers, so that they shall rise up against their conquerors and spoilers, and in their turn subdue them. The Targum is,

``that strengthens the weak against the strong;''

or causes the weak to prevail over the strong. A learned man, from the use of the word in the Arabic language, chooses to render it, "who intends", or "designs, destruction to the strong" ^F4; that is, in his secret purposes, and which he brings about in providence; though he is doubtful whether it may not have the signification of recreation and refreshment, and whether the construction and circumstances will admit of it; and some do so translate it, "who refreshes himself with destruction against the strong" ^F5; takes delight and pleasure in it; it is a recreation to him: so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress:
lay siege to it and take it, in which the spoiler thought himself secure with the spoil and substance he had taken from the spoiled; such sudden changes and vicissitudes can God bring upon men when he pleases. Some apply this to the Romans strengthened against the Jews, and besieging their fortified city Jerusalem; but not very aptly.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (ze le dv gylbmh) "qui intendit destinat destructionem forti", Hottinger, Smegma Orientale, l. 1. c. 7. p. 129.
F5 "Qui recreat se vastatione contra fortem [sive] robustum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Tarnovius. So Stockius, p. 136.

Amos 5:9 In-Context

7 Die het recht in alsem verkeren, en de gerechtigheid ter aarde doen liggen.

8 Die het Zevengesternte en den Orion maakt, en de doodsschaduw in den morgenstond verandert, en den dag als den nacht verduistert; Die de wateren der zee roept, en giet ze uit op den aardbodem, HEERE is Zijn Naam.

9 Die Zich verkwikt door verwoesting over een sterke; zodat de verwoesting komt over een vesting.

10 Zij haten in de poort dengene, die bestraft, en hebben een gruwel van dien, die oprechtelijk spreekt.

11 Daarom, omdat gij den arme vertreedt en een last koren van hem neemt, zo hebt gij wel huizen gebouwd van gehouwen steen, maar gij zult daarin niet wonen; gij hebt gewenste wijngaarden geplant, maar gij zult derzelver wijn niet drinken.